Belle, a young woman living in a small French village, dreamed of "adventure in the great wide somewhere." She yearned for more out of life than the other people in her town. Yet, she was still stuck in a village filled with "poor, provincial" people, and dodging the egotistical, not-to-bright Gaston who wanted Belle for his wife. Gaston reasoned that since Belle was the most beautiful woman in town and he was the most handsome, therefore she should be his.
One day Belle's father, and inventor named Maurice, set out for
the fair to show off his latest invention. 
On the way to the fair, he took a wrong turn and
found himself lost in the woods. Scared off by the wolves, his horse
left him alone near a tall castle. Maurice, seeing no other alternatives,
approached the building, and let himself in. He was quickly made at
home by the strange "people" 
that he found within. The master of the castle, the Beast, was not
so welcoming and was angered by Maurice's presence. He threw Maurice
in the dungeon and swore that he would remain there as his prisoner...